A 43-year-old resident of Drohobych has been sentenced to 5 years and 6 months’ imprisonment for obstructing the lawful activities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and publicly condoning the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine.
As established by the court, the man, who presented himself as a human rights defender and journalist, systematically and deliberately obstructed the work of servicemen of the district Territorial Recruitment and Social Support Centre in Drohobych under martial law. He provoked verbal confrontations with the military personnel who were carrying out duties to notify citizens, insulted their honour and dignity, publicly referred to the institutions as ‘private offices’ and urged local residents to ignore the requirements of the Centre and not to open their doors.
The convicted man recorded his actions on mobile phones and then disseminated the videos on social media platforms Facebook, Telegram and his own YouTube channel. In public speeches and online broadcasts, he spread manipulative narratives about evading mobilisation, claimed that the serving of call-up papers was ‘unconstitutional’ and publicly condoned the armed aggression of the Russian Federation, shifting responsibility for the war onto Ukraine.
Prosecutors of the Lviv Regional Prosecutor’s Office proved the man’s guilt in court under Part 1 of Article 114-1 and Parts 2 and 3 of Article 436-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. In July 2023, his activities were halted, and in August this year the court handed down a custodial sentence. The verdict will enter into legal force after the expiry of the appeal period.